Program

NYS Historic

Subject

House, Religion

Location

152 Main St, Setauket- East Setauket, NY 11733, USA

Lat/Long

40.94196, -73.106794

Grant Recipient

North Shore Jewish Center

Around 1890, members of the Jewish community of Setauket in Suffolk County, New York, located on the North Shore of Long Island, met to establish a congregation. In 1893, they officially incorporated the congregation as Agudas Achim. Prior to incorporation, members had been meeting to worship at the home of one of the congregation members in East Setauket. In February 1896, the congregation purchased property in Setauket for two hundred dollars in order to build a synagogue. The September 3, 1896 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported on the dedication of the newly constructed building:

The new synagogue of the Society of A Goodes Achem was dedicated here last night with appropriate services. Hebrews and Christians from this and neighboring villages turned out in large numbers to attend the dedication. The new house of worship stands on the main street and a short distance from the rubber works, where the greater number of members are employed. The exterior and front of the building was gay with bunting and colored lanterns last night and three great arches of green foliage spanned the gates.

It went on to report that the building cost about $1,500 dollars to complete and could hold around three hundred seats, noting that the congregation numbered fifty-two members at the time. It is believed to be one of the first buildings constructed on Long Island as a synagogue for the purpose of Jewish prayer and gatherings.

The building served as the congregation’s synagogue until around 1914. In 1948 the North Shore Jewish Center acquired the building, moving it back from the road about twenty-five feet. The building was used by the Jewish Community Center until 1971. As of 2022, the building was used as a thrift store by the Setauket United Methodist Church.

Links

• North Shore Jewish Center